5

ASHLEY

"You are so incompetent!" 

Genevieve snarled, her strident voice booming across her office, wanting to bring the whole building to its feet. Her words slapped me in the face, giving me a mental whiplash.

 I shifted my weight on my other foot, looking down at my feet like they had something interesting going on. My hands fell limp at my sides, balling into fists. The throbbing ache that clawed at my abdomen made me dizzy with pain.

"Look at me whenever I'm speaking to you!" She bellowed and I jolted upright, wanting to shrink into a ball underneath her searing gaze. Her pitch-black orbs were narrowing slits at me, her jaw clenched tightly with the veins in her neck looking like they wanted to pop out.

"What exactly are you being paid for in this company!? To sit in your wretched office and sip coffee all day?" She scowled at me and her frown deepened, even more.

"And do nothing all day! God, I'm so sick of you! How long is it going to take you to fix meetings and draft out a new schedule as I requested this morning?" Her loud voice had reduced, but it still bore some hostility to it.

My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip, digging into it mercilessly. I was almost drawing blood out of it. She shot me a menacing look and rolled her eyes, hard. I bit back a response, shutting my eyes closed.

I was tired.

I was angry.

I was frustrated.

But then, all these amounted to nothing before Genevieve. She couldn't give a flying flapdoodle about how and what I felt. This woman was one of the cruelest humans I had ever come across. She was brutal and didn't care who she hurt with the words that left her mouth.

All she cared about was getting the job done.

You could be dying and she wouldn't even bat an eyelash. I mean, she should give me a break here. I wasn't lazy. I was trying my best. I couldn't act like the robot she was asking me to. That was so unfair!

"I'm sorry, Gen. I'm almost done with it." My voice was surprisingly calm when I spoke up. She grimaced and gave a dismissive wave.

"I want them done before the end of today. Do not test me, Ashley." She warned, her tone reeking of threats that I knew would come to pass if I failed to do as she said.

The sharp pain that clawed at my abdomen prevented me from speaking further, so I resorted to nodding my head in response.

"Leave," She dismissed me, coldly. 

I didn't waste a second in her toxic presence. I left her office.

"Ashley!" The familiar voice that often sounded like a screech in my ears called out to me. I whisked my head to where she stood by her cubicle, with some other female staff. The outrageous makeover on her face was almost blinding. The bright pink matte lipstick on her lips looked awful.

Maxine was gorgeous, but the fact that she was always trying so hard to be everywhere was so annoying! The pale-skinned lady had her black hair curled in beach waves, her makeup looking overly pronounced, highlighting her amber eyes.

Her cream blazer dress sat pretty on her hourglass figure, augmenting her tall frame.

"Hi, Maxine," I flashed a faux smile at her once I got to her.

Gah! Cramps are awful!

"Hey, Ash! How are you? You look so good today!" There was something about Maxine, that no matter how she tries to hide it. It was still there. Written all over her. It radiated off her in fucking waves!

Pretense.

I saw right through her. I have never met someone as vain as she was. 

"I'm fine, Maxine." I sighed tiredly.

"The girls and I were just talking about how lush your hair looks. Did you get extensions? It's pretty!" She squealed and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"No, I didn't. Maxine, I have a lot of work to attend to right now. We'll talk later." And with that, I twirled on my heels and left her presence.

"You didn't have to lie to her, Max. Her hair looks so unkempt." They giggled amongst themselves, once I was out of earshot.

Fucking kids.

✰✰✰✰✰✰

"Ashley," 

The cone of ice cream in my hands dropped to the floor with a soft thud. I cussed internally. I didn't know what kept me on such an edge today. I was being extra jumpy. I looked down at the stain on my shirt and sighed. I turned around, my gaze settling on Noah's tall frame.

I chuckled, nervously.

His hands were tucked in the pocket of his cream slacks that he paired with a white shirt and a dark brown sweater. His curly blonde hair was falling over his face, his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, and his brown eyes gleamed with worry as he gave me a once-over.

"Hey, Noah!" I chirped in a tune that didn't in any way belong to me. It wasn't until I spoke up that I realized how high-pitched and fake I sounded.

"I'm so sorry, Ashley. I didn't mean to scare you. Let me get you one." He rapped out all in one breath, earning a smile and a dismissive wave from me.

"It's alright, Noah. It's fine." I assured him.

He exhaled, his tensed shoulders slumping in relief.

My legs were starting to ache, so I took my seat on the nearest chair and he did the same, grinning cheekily at me.

Noah worked here as the company's photographer. He resumed about six months ago or so. He was quite the skilled photographer and had the nicest personality. He was warm, friendly, and down to earth. The guy looked like he had no bone of unfriendliness in him, nor the capacity to hate.

He was the closest thing I had to a friend in the office. However, he didn't see me as just a friend. I wasn't blind. I knew he saw me as something more. It was written all over him, besides, he came clean about his feelings two months ago, but I turned him down.

I had someone in my life.

It seemed like all I had been telling him fell on deaf ears. That didn't deter him from trying so hard to make me see reasons to be with him. The guy was amazing, but I didn't want him.

"How are you keeping up with Gen?" His last word came out in a whisper and I giggled, tucking my hair behind my ear.

To some extent, Noah could unarguably relate to her brutality and scorn. He was always at the receiving end of her anger, most times.

"I'm still breathing. I guess that counts for something." I snorted, earning a chuckle from him. His eyes lingered on my face for a bit and his lips twitched in a smile, causing me to swallow and look away.

An awkward silence ensued between us, hanging in the air. He broke the silence by clearing his throat. I took a cursory glance at him and forced a smile.

"Um… so, do you wanna have dinner with me?" He asked, unabashedly. His eyes were simply fixated on me, watching my every move.

I was quiet, making a mental debate.

Noah was a nice guy but I was tired of hurting him this way. I didn't like repeating myself to him every time. An irritated sigh left my lips.

"No, Noah. I can't." I shook my head and the smile on his face fell.

"Ashley__" He tried to speak.

"And, stop trying so hard. It's uncomfortable." I told him and got off my seat, walking out on him.

I was harsh, yes but it had to be done.